The municipality of Tugaya in the province of Lanao del Sur has set a zealous determination of preserving and promoting its rich cultural heritage to foster the identity of its community and the entire populace of Maranaos.
This, as the local government unit (LGU) of the mentioned town in partnership with the Ministry of Trade, Investments and Tourism (MTIT) and Office of Former Member of Parliament and now Marawi Compensation Board (MCB) Chairperson Lawyer Maisara Dandamun-Latiph led the community validation and presentation of the recently completed cultural mapping which aimed to recognize the significant contributions of the Maranao artisans, particularly in Tugaya town, in the hopes of cultivating their legacy and making it known to the future generations.
Tugaya Cultural Mapping Project Head Walid Pangcoga explained that this attempt involves documenting and visualizing various cultural resources, including tangible and intangible elements, to picture diversity in their place.
He recalled that on May 24, 2018, they made their first move by launching Culturaid, Inc., another initiative with the same goal of fostering their culture.
From then on, they underwent three phases: research, writing, and editing. These ensured that the collected and collated information were true and factual before presenting their output for validation, publishing, and launching their completed book.
“Naconsolidate na after a series of field interviews and research, and ang mga cultural mappers natin ay nagkaroon din ng series of meetings and editing. Ngayon naman, ivavalidate ng community kung ang naisulat o nadocument natin ay may mali or tama or kulang pa ba,” he said.
(It is already consolidated after a series of field interviews and research, and our cultural mappers have also had a series of meetings and editing. Now, the community will validate if what we have written or documented is wrong or true or if there is something lacking.)
Pangcoga is confident that with their undertaking, they could encourage more citizens to recognize and appreciate their cultural heritage while heartening their own people to enhance their cultural tourism and economic development, plan and safeguard their heritage, and facilitate intercultural dialogue and understanding.
He was also looking forward to them being a tool for social mobilization, community empowerment, and revitalization of marginalized or endangered cultural practices, especially since they intend to be recognized by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) for their cultural heritage.
Pangcoga stressed that they could only fulfill this when their artisans could enjoy some limelight where they would showcase their distinctive skills.
“Hindi lang sana tularan kung hindi at least marecognize sila [artisans] on their contributions kasi the tourism haven ng Lanao del Sur ay itong products and textiles na gawa sa Tugaya. If ever man na mawala na ang mga artisan, at least we have written and documented the cultural tradition and heritage of Tugaya,” said Pangcoga.
(We should not just emulate but also recognize them [artisans] for their contributions because the tourism haven of Lanao del Sur is these products and textiles made in Tugaya. If ever the artisans will be extinct, at least we have written and documented the cultural tradition and heritage of Tugaya.
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